Bryan and I will be back tonight talking the latest news as well as taking e-mail questions to
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.

We're looking for reports on tonight's WWE Raw house show from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, as well as the Smackdown house show from the All-State Arena in Chicago. Tonight begins what is traditionally the WWE's biggest U.S. house show tour of the year, the post-Christmas run. Kane & Daniel Bryan are scheduled to work both shows tonight, working low on one and high on the other, and rushing to a flight in between.

Raw follows up with a show tomorrow in Madison Square Garden, a Friday night show at the Nassau Coliseum. Monday's New Year's Eve Raw show will be taped on Saturday night in Washington, DC at the Verizon Center. John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler headlines the Raw house shows, which will also have a special return of the New Age Outlaws.

Smackdown runs Thursday night in Green Bay and Friday night in Minneapolis. The top stars then head to Washington, DC, on Saturday for the Raw taping before Smackdown and Main Event are taped on Sunday night in Richmond, VA. Big Show vs. Sheamus headlines the Smackdown house shows.

WWE Main Event tonight on Ion:

- 20 man Battle Royal for a shot at the U.S. title on next week's show- Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel vs. Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre

Fuel's UFC coverage tonight has the Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Countdown at 6 p.m., Top 50 moments of the year in UFC at 7 p.m., UFC 143 with Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at 8 p.m., the first Velasquez vs. Dos Santos fight at 11 p.m. (if it starts at 11 that would mean it would be over at 11:01) and the 12/8 FOX special with Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz at midnight.

THE NEW OBSERVER: BUSINESS YEAR IN REVIEW - PART 1

We have the first part of our annual Business Year in Review Observer, running down the biggest and most successful events of the year, with the biggest crowds, biggest arena headliners of the year, as well as a rundown of all the PPV numbers for 2012, the largest gates of the year and looking at the leading companies, a comparison to how many successful major events each one did as compared to every year dating back to 2008 so you can see where each company has gained and lost in popularity. We also have 2012 charts for UFC and WWE when it comes to the PPV business and big show business dating back too 2007. We also look at UFC and Strikeforce ratings for 2012.

Our other lead story is, taking the 2012 results into effect, the updated list of the 100 biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history based on longevity at the top. We look at what milestone John Cena reached in 2012. We also have a note on everyone ranked No. 76 or higher who is not in the Hall of Fame right now, with background on all of them and whether they belong.

The issue is on the web site today, as is a back issue from 1995 which covers Shawn Michaels being beaten up in Syracuse as well as the preview of the first ever Ultimate Ultimate tournament.

With the Strikeforce promotion running its last show on 1/12, we've got a history of the promotion piece. We look at what killed the promotion, twice, the contract and what is said, and why it led to the death of the brand. We look at the rise of Ronda Rousey, the beginnings of Strikeforce dating back to 1992, Cung Le, the first Strikeforce MMA show, Frank Shamrock, Gina Carano, the biggest fights, signing of stars like Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson, and a look at the final show.

We also have more on Randy Orton's shoulder problems, the WWE issues with THQ and what it all means, a look at WWE's monthly business for November, with a look at house shows, ratings web hits and merchandise numbers. We also have an update on Sin Cara, notes on Tribute to the Troops, a story you wouldn't expect to find where it was about Sin Cara, more on Big E Langston's background, Tommy Dreamer talks his appearance on Raw, a former WWE star talks about possibly returning and more on Slammy voting and what it says.

We also have a look at the largest fan awards poll, the annual Nikkan Sports pro wrestling awards for 2012, including a look at who was the star in the balloting.

We have a major feature on the life and career of Rip Hawk, whose 33 year career saw it be around for the final days of Londos, Lewis and Pesek, as well as span the early career of Ric Flair and Ted DiBiase. We look at the never-ending Weaver & Beaver vs. Hawk & Hanson feud, Battles of the Bullies, who was Swede Hanson, how his tag team with Ric Flair started, how he claims Ric Flair saved his life, life after wrestling, what match convinced him he could make it in wrestling, his first championships, the first episode ever of Wrestling at the Chase and how that differed from every pro wrestling television show, before or after. We look at his interplay with Joe Garagiola which got him national pub, his St. Louis main events with the biggest names of the era, and his arrival in Mid Atlantic. We look at his run in Mid Atlantic as well as the end of his career.

We also have the ballot for the 2012 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.

We also have a look at Survivor Series numbers and the business of the show dating back the last few years.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world. Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Our most requested issues in our history are:

*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how the industry was changed forever)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

WEDNESDAY NEWS, NOTES & LINKS

--WWE will be pushing the 1/14 Raw as a special show, as local advertising in Houston is calling it the 20th anniversary of Raw.

--CBS Sports will be airing the Glory and Dream New Year's Eve show from the Saitama Super Arena on tape delay. CBS Sports is Ch. 613 on DirecTV (part of the sports premium package) and is available as a premium channel in virtually every home. The kickboxing matches, a 16 man tournament featuring Peter Aerts, Semmy Schilt, Gokhan Saki and Daniel Ghita, modeled after the old K-1 World Grand Prix tournaments, will air on New Year's Eve at 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The MMA fights will air on 1/1, also from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

--TNA will be finishing out the year with house shows on Saturday night in Poughkeepsie and Sunday in Albany, NY.

--Dana White will be a guest on Jim Rome's show on Showtime tonight at 10 p.m.

--Gorgeous George passed away on this date 49 years ago at the age of 48.

--Paul Daley didn't exactly answer questions, but this is what he said on Facebook about his being out of Bellator's welterweight tournament:

"It seems as though a mass press release has gone out to the MMA media, stating I was involved in a bar brawl, arrested, and cannot obtain a P-1 visa to compete in the USA. I am currently awaiting a decision on my visa, which is not expected until late April. Which means I am unable to compete in the season 8 Bellator tournament, as it starts in January. I will be fighting in Europe in the coming months, so I am able to stay active while awaiting a decision on my visa status. I was not involved in a bar brawl. This is a 100% false statement."

--Forbes Magazine had a look at what the biggest movie stars were paid and what they delivered at the box office. Natalie Portman, who drew 42.70 times what she was paid, was the best investment of 2012. What does that have to do with this? Well, Dwayne Johnson, bringing in 22.7 times what he's paid in revenue, was No. 8. Luckily, none of those movies had him headlining by teaming with John Cena against Miz & R-Truth.

--In the Best of King of the Ring on Netflix, they aired every final except 1995 and 1999. Poor Billy Gunn never gets any respect. (thanks to Travis) They also added Rock vs. Cena Once in a Lifetime, Top 50 Greatest Finishing Moves in WWE History and NWO: The Revolution. (thanks to Brian Hoops)

--The Score won't be airing any WWE programming in its usual Friday night time slot (NXT, Vintage Collection and Smackdown), instead running college football. NXT will air tonight at midnight and tomorrow at 4 p.m. Vintage Collection airs tomorrow at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. Smackdown airs Saturday at 8 p.m. and midnight.

WHO WAS THE STAR OF RAW?

Santa Claus 35.2%

C.M. Punk 15.1%

Alberto Del Rio 13.2%

Ricardo Rodriguez 12.8%

A.J. Lee 8.2%

Brad Maddox 8.2%

John Cena 4.6%

Kane 1.8%

Booker T 0.9%

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF RAW?

Excellent 12.0%

Good 12.0%

Average 16.7%

Fair 12.0%

Poor 47.3%

29.9% of those responding didn't see the show

--On this day in history

- 55 years ago today: Verne Gagne & Bronko Nagurski won the NWA(which later became AWA) Minnesota versions of the world tag team titles from the Atomic Blonds, Johnny Valentine & Chet Wallich in Minneapolis.

--The Big Time Wrestling promotion is doing tryouts on 1/12 from 1-4 p.m. at their gym at 4588 Peralta Blvd., Unit 25, in Fremont, CA. For more info you can call 510-494-9648.

--National Pro Wrestling run by Joe Panzanrino will have all its future dates taken by Funkdafied Wrestling Federation, with shows on 1/29 in Stirling, NJ, 1/25 in Manville, NJ, 1/26 in Brick, NJ, 2/8 in Wilmington, DE and 2/9 in Keyport, NJ. Panzarino will not be involved in any aspects of the new company.

--Dragon Gate and Evolve are doing a 2 for $25 DVD sale, along with a number of other sales on their website.

--Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 1/5 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

--Portia Perez is headed to Japan in January for the Stardom promotion. It's her second tour of Japan, having previously gone for REINA in 2011.

--Shimmer is already planning a big show WrestleMania weekend on 4/6 in Secaucus, NJ at the Meadowlands Exposition Center with Saraya Knight vs. Cheerleader Melissa for the title in a cage match, plus Athena vs. Ayako Hamada, and the returns of Amazing (Awesome) Kong and Madison Eagles. They will also do DVD tapings on 4/13 and 4/14 in Berwyn, IL.

--ECWA on 1/5 in Newark, DE at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club features Chris Wylde vs. Josh Daniels in a submission match.

--WAR has its tenth anniversary show on 1/19 in Lima, OH at the UAW Hall featuring a 2 ring War Games match and the Hall of Fame inductions of local stars Al Snow, Stevie Lee, Crusher Kline, Big Jim Lancaster and The Nightmares. The show will also air on iiPPV.